Liverpool’s Title Nerves on Show as Anfield Feels the Pressure | OneFootball

Anxiety Creeps In Amongst Anfield Faithful

The anxiety within Anfield was unmistakable. The Liverpool faithful, usually so raucous and relentless, responded with exasperation when their long-serving left-back opted for a cautious pass back to Alisson Becker with 15 minutes left to play. The Premier League leaders were clinging on, desperately trying to see out a tense 2-1 victory over struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The nerves in the stands seemed to seep onto the pitch. Alisson uncharacteristically punched when catching was the safer option, Alexis Mac Allister surrendered possession under minimal pressure, and Ryan Gravenberch sliced a clearance with unsteady feet. When Wataru Endo raced back to support Robertson and won a free kick deep into stoppage time, the roar from Anfield was as much relief as celebration. Moments later, Virgil van Dijk crouched, fists clenched, his emotion evident. Three points secured, but the mood was far from triumphant.

Photo: IMAGO

Winning Ugly in the Title Race

A seven-point gap at the top of the Premier League would usually prompt chants of defiance, but the “Liverpool, top of the league” chorus lacked its usual gusto. Arne Slot’s side may have emerged victorious, but they know performances like this won’t be enough if they want to remain at the summit when the curtain falls on May 25. A more clinical side than Wolves, who sit fourth from bottom, would have made Liverpool pay for such a lethargic, error-strewn second half.

“When the boys came in (after the match), I felt that they were a bit down, maybe,” Slot admitted. “They felt it wasn’t our best performance, which tells you how well we have played during the season. They weren’t so happy.

“I said to them this win is maybe even a bigger accomplishment than outplaying Tottenham here 4-0. In a season, if you want to achieve something, good football is the basis of success.

“But if you don’t have the mentality to win difficult games, you will never achieve something. That is why I was so disappointed for the players and so frustrated after the game against Everton on Wednesday. A draw was very hard to take. We didn’t get that one, but we got one today.”

Photo: IMAGO

Slot’s repeated references to Liverpool’s Merseyside derby disappointment suggest the wounds from James Tarkowski’s controversial 98th-minute equaliser at Goodison Park remain raw. That psychological blow lingered, influencing their reaction to adversity against Wolves.

Liverpool had started brightly, with Luis Diaz ending his 10-game goal drought and Mohamed Salah’s clinical penalty giving them a 2-0 cushion at the break. But when things turned against them in the second half, confidence wavered. Salah saw a goal disallowed for offside, Diogo Jota had a penalty claim correctly overturned, and Wolves pounced as Matheus Cunha curled home a fine finish to halve the deficit.

From that moment on, Liverpool never looked comfortable. “You saw today after us conceding that for the first time this season we were a bit ‘Ooh’ — conceding in the last minute against Everton was in our heads a bit,” Slot admitted.

Concerns Over Second-Half Drop-Off

If Liverpool want to maintain their grip on the title race, they must avoid second halves like this. The statistics are damning. This was the first time since Opta began recording data in 2003-04 that Liverpool failed to register a single shot in an entire half of Premier League football at Anfield. Wolves, hardly an attacking force this season, had 10 second-half shots to Liverpool’s zero, recorded 20 touches in the opposition box compared to three, and generated an xG (expected goals) of 1.11 to Liverpool’s non-existent threat. Possession dipped from 53 per cent in the first half to 46 per cent after the break, and the hosts lost all midfield control.

Robertson endured a tough afternoon, winning just two of eight duels and losing possession 18 times, while Trent Alexander-Arnold faded badly. Liverpool’s midfield trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai collectively lost possession 28 times. Wolves capitalised, springing counter-attacks from loose passes into midfield.

Liverpool were indebted to Alisson for a superb save from Marshall Munetsi and a goal-saving tackle from Jarell Quansah, who replaced Ibrahima Konate at half-time as Slot feared the Frenchman, already on a booking, was at risk of a red card. The introduction of Quansah, Endo, and Conor Bradley helped steady the ship, but the attack faltered. Darwin Nunez, on for Jota, failed to impose himself, completing just four of eight passes and winning two of five duels.

“Today, you saw how vital players like Jarell and Wata (Endo) are for this team,” Slot noted. “If you want to achieve something, you need goals from Mo or Lucho (Diaz) or the others, but you also need players that you can depend on.

“I think Jarell had a bit of a hard time after being taken off at Ipswich (on the season’s opening weekend) and then the next two or three games after that when he came in was a bit of a struggle. But he’s showing that he is back to his old level.”

Embracing the Challenge Ahead

Liverpool’s desire to reclaim Premier League glory is fuelled by the frustration of their pandemic-era triumph in 2020, when celebrations were muted. They crave the full experience this time. But with seven of their final 11 games at home, Anfield must become a source of strength rather than anxiety.

“Enjoy it,” urged Van Dijk. But too many inside Anfield seemed to be enduring rather than embracing the moment.

The good news? Liverpool’s fate remains in their own hands. A win at Aston Villa on Wednesday would put them 10 points clear, applying real pressure on their rivals. But if they are to lift the title in May, they must find a way to exude control and confidence rather than succumb to nerves.